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R. S. CORLETT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASH MACHINES, APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. min.

1 $65,461 Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

R.S.CORLETT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASH MACHINES,

APPLICATION FlLED JUNE 20, 19I8- Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2- R. S. CORLETT.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASH MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1918.

1,365,461. Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

z/llllllllflllllllllll R. s. comm. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASH MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE 2U, I9I8.

I 56 III 37 p/ f; 8 9

4 $I'IEETSSHEET 4- X II Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

z afa 3556 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. CORLETT, O1 EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO EDWARD E. BEE'IHOLD AND GUSTAVE W. BERTHOLD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, DOING BUSINESS AS'BERTHOLD ELEGTRIGAL IVIFG. CO.

OPERATING MEQHANISM FOB 'i/VASH-MACHINES.

Application filed June 20, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT S. Uonnn'r'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at l lvanston, in the county of Cook and State of .l llinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Mechanism for Wash-lilaclnnes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to clothes washing and wringing machines and more particu larly to the operating mechanism therefor; and the gei'ieral object of the invention is to provide operating mechanism of improved construction and arrangement and to support the same advantageously upon the body of the washing machine.

More specifically the objects of the invention are to provide unitary operating mechanism, including the supporting and inclosing means, which is constructed and assembled into a rigid whole before being mounted upon the washing machine body; which insures proper alinemeiit and relation to the running parts and prevents any bindp :of regardless of any irregi'ilarity or instability of the washing machine body; in which all of th running parts are inclosed so that no part is exposed to cause ac cidents or injury, and which permits all of the running parts to be packed in hard oil or grease so as to avoid the necessity of the parts being oiled by the user.

The objects of the invention thus generally stated together with other and ancillary advantages are attained by the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which Figure 1 is an end elevationof a wash machine embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the inclosing means for the operating mechanism which is shownin elevation. 3 is a detached view of the rear side of the unitary supporting bracket and inclosing means for the operating mechanism. a is an end view of the. same. Fig. 5 is atop plan view of the same. .Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line 77 of Fig. 3. F 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line .9--9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a similar view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Serial No. 240,909.-

taken on line 1010 of Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1l11 of Fig. 3. Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12--12 of Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a similar view taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings 1 indicates generically the body of a washing machine of the rotary drum or cylinder type and having secured on one end thereof a bracket 2 which carries a wringer 3 as well as the operating mechanism for the washing machine and wringer.

The washing machine body 1 comprises i tub l having a drum (not shown) there in, and suitably supported at each end upon legs 5 connected together at their upper ends by a rail 6. v

lhe bracket 2 is in the form of an integral casting and has a 3point suspension from the body of the machine. To this end the bracket is substantially triangular in shape and comprises a horizontal portion 2, an upright portion 2", and an intermediate angular portion 2. The horizontal portion 2.

extends substantially across the upper edge of one end of the washing machine body and is suitably secured at its opposite ends to the cross rail 6 of the body as by means of bolts 7; and the upright portion 2 of the bracket extends downwardly from the horizontal portion to a point below the tub 4. and is secured to one of the legs 5 as by means of a bolt 8. Said horizontal portion 2 of the bracket carries the wringer 3 which is suitably secured thereto as by means of bolts 9, while the intermediate angular portion 2 of the bracket carries a housing 10 which incloses the reversing mechanism for the drum of the washing machine. The end wall of the tub a is suitably secured to said formed thereon a housing 15 for inclosing the clutch connection between the main drive shaft and a horizontal drive shaft 16 for the washing machine; and on ts upper end Just above the horizontal portion of the bracket the upright portion thereof has a housing 17 for inclosing the clutch connection between the main drive shaft and a horizontal drive shaft 18 of the wringer 3. Between the housings 10 and 15, 13 and 15, and 15 and 17, the bracket is also provided with tubular casings 19, and 21 for inclosing the shafts 16 and 14.

The reversing mechanism for the drum of the washing machine is made the subject matter of a copending application Serial No. 240,910, iiled June 20, 1918, but may be briefly described herein as follows:

The drive shaft 16 is journaled in suit able bearings 22 mounted within openings 22 and 22 in opposite sides of the housing 10, and said shaft has loosely but non-slidably mounted thereon, within the housing, a pair of bevel pinions 23 and 24 meshing at diametrically opposite sides of a bevel gear 25. Said gear is fixed on the outer end of one of the journals (not shown) of the washing machine drum, which is mounted in a bearing 253 (Fig. 9) in the rear wall of the housing 10. The pinions 23 and 24 are arranged to be alternately driven from the drive shaft 16 through a shiftable clutch sleeve 26 splined upon the shaft 16 and arranged to be moved into driving engagement with either of the bevel pinions 23 and 24, the hubs of which are provided with suitable clutch faces for this purpose. The means for thus shifting the clutch sleeve 26 may be a lever 27 pivoted at its lower end upon an upstanding lug 10 in the housing 10 and suitably connected to the clutch sleeve so as to permit the latter to rotate with the drive shaft. Said lever is arranged to be moved alternately in opposite directions, to shift the clutch sleeve 26, by means of an oseil latory member or rocker 28 rotatably mounted in the upper portion of the housing and having an arm 29 the free end of which is connected'to the upper end of the lever 27 by means of a tension spring 30.

The ournal of the washing machine drum which carries the bevel gear has also fixed thereon a spur pinion 31 (dotted lines Fig. 2) which meshes at all times with a spur gear 32 mounted concentrically with the rocker 28 and having a suitable projection (not herein shown) on its forward'side arranged to engage with a corresponding projection (not shown) on the rear side of Y the rocker arm 29. It will be seen that a rotation of the spur gear 32, through the pinion 31, will swing the rocker arm 29 sowashing machine drum has made a predetermined number of revolutions in one direction, whereupon the drum is rotated the same number of revolutions in the opposite direction before the clutch sleeve is again shifted to reverse the rotation of the drum. The forward wall of the housing 10 may be in the form of a removable cover plate 10 so that the reversing mechanism may be readily assembled therein.

The main drive shaft 14 is arranged to be driven by the motor 12 and to this end has fixed thereon near its lower end a bevel gear 33 (Figs. 2 and 10) meshing with a bevel pinion 34 fixed on a stud shaft 35 suitably mounted in the rear wall of the housing. 1 spiral gear 36 is also fixed on said stud shaft 35 and meshes with a spiral pinion 37 fixed on the motor shaft 38 so that the driving shaft 14 is adapted to be constantly driven by the motor. The housing 13 is preferably shaped in. accordance with the arrangement of the gearing inclosed therein and is made sectional to facilitate the assembling of the operating parts therein, the rear section being removably secured to the forward section. which is formed integral with the bracket, as by means of screws 39. Said removable section has an opening 40 therein through which the bolt 8 is entered to secure the lower portion of the bracket to the leg 5 of the machine body.

in its lower portion the housing 13 is provided with a socket 4-1 (Fig. 2) having a bearin therein for the lower end of the main drive shaft 14 below the beve gear Z 3. Above the bevel gear the shaft 14 extends upv-iardly through the tubular casing 20, the housing 15 and the tubular casing 21. The ends of the tubular casings 20 and 21 adjacent the housing 15 preferably each provided with a bearing for the shaft 14 and looseiy but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft within the housing 15 is a bevel pinion 44. E aid pinion meshes at all times with a bevel gear fixed on the outer end of the shaft 16 which extends through the tubular casing 19 into the housing 10; and at the end of the casing 19 opening into the housing 15, there is provided a bearing 46 for the shaft 16. In order to connect the bevel pinion 44 to the main drive shaft 1.4, for rotation therewith, a clutch sleeve 47 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 14 and adapted to be moved into driving engagement with the pinion 44, the clutch sleeve and pinon being provided with complementary clutch faces 48 and 49. The means for thus shifting the clutch sleeve may comprise a hand lever 50 fixed on the outer end of a stud shaft 51 entered through a bearing 52 in the outer side wall of the housing. The shaft 51 in turn has fixed on its inner end a plate 53 which has a block 54 rotatably mounted eccentrically thereof (Fig. 12) and adapted to operate in a groove in the clutch sleeve. The plate has a pair of notches 56 on opposite sides of its axis arranged to engage with a stop pin. 57 mounted in the end of the bearing 52, to limit the movement of the plate and thereby of tlie block in opposite directions, It will be seen that the operation of the drive sin 16 of the washing machine may be readily controlled by the operation of the hand lever 50. In order that the parts may be readily assembled within the housing 15, the outer side wall thereof which carries the hand lever 56 is made in the form of a separate plate detachably secured in place as by means of screws 58.

From the tubular casing 21 the main drive shaft 1 1 extends upwardly through the housing 17 the upper wall of which is provided with a tubular stem 17. In its upper end said stem is fitted with a plug 59 having a latetfor the upper end of the shaft 14:. Said stem also carries a bearing 60 for the upper end of the shaft 14 and another bean ing 61 is provided for the shaft in the upper end of the tubular casing 21. Preferably the tubular casings 19, 20 and 21 are slightly enlarged at their ends carrying the bearings iii, 46 and 61, so that the movement of saild bearings into the casings is prerentec The mechanism for operating the wringer 3 may comprise a pair of bevel pinions 62 rotatably but non-slidably mounted on the shaft 14 and meshing at diametrically opposite sides of a bevel gear 63 fixed on the outer end of the wringer drive shaft 18. A clutch sleeve 64 slidably but non-rotatably mounted upon the shaft 14 between the pinions 62, 62 is provided on its opposite ends with clutch faces 65 and 66 arranged to engage with complementary clutch faces 67 and 68 on the bevel pinions when the sleeve is shifted. Thus when the sleeve is shifted into engagement with one of said bevel pinions or the other the shaft 18 is correspond ingly rotated. The means for thus shifting the clutch sleeve herein comprises a hand lever 69 fixed on the outer end of a stud shaft 70 which is entered through a bearing 71 in the outer side wall of the housing 17. In its inner free end the stud shaft 70 carries a plate 72 (Fig. 13) which has a block 73 rotatably mounted eccentrically thereof and arranged to operate in a roove 741- in the clutch sleeve 64. The plate 2 has a pair of notches 75 on opposite sides of lts axis arranged to engage with a stop pin 76 mounted in the end of the bearing 71 to limit the movement of the plate and thereby of the block 73 in opposite directions. It will. be apparent that the direction of the operation of the wringer may be readily controlled by means of the hand lever 69, and preferably means are provided for normally holding the hand lever and thereby the clutch sleeve in neutral position. Such means may comprise a spring-pressed plunger 76 mounted on an arm 77 carried by the housing 17, and entered through an aperture in the bearing 71, the inner end of said plunger being held by spring 78 in engagement with a flattened surface 7 9 (dotted lines Fig. 2) on the shaft 70. Like the housing 15, the outer wall of the housing 17 is preferably formed from a separate plate detachably secured in place, as by means of screws 80.

It will be seen that I have provided an operating mechanism for washing and wringing machines which is of a very practical character. It forms a unitary structure which may be completely assembled in the machine shop of a manufacturing plant before being mounted upon the washing machine body and before the wringer is mounted thereon. Thus the assembling of the several parts of the operating mecha nism may not only be done by the most capable workmen so that the possibility of error is reduced to a minimum, but the'work is done in the most logical part of the plant and when the mechanism is finally passed on to be attached to the machine body, the assembling operation is very simple.

It will also be evident that the several housings and tubular casings separately in.- closing the operating parts may be readily packed with a suitable lubricant such as hard grease and this be done before the mechanism is passed on to be secured to the washing machine body. Thus the necessity of lubricating the operating mecha nism during the life of the machine is elimi nated.

I In prior structures the several parts of the operating mechanism have been separately assembled upon the machine body but this construction and arrangement is objection-- able for the reason that in the course of time the strain between the parts gradually weakens the body and such weakening of the body has necessitated the use of universal joints between most if not. all of the operating shafts. B the present construction and arrangement, however, where all the parts are mounted upon an integral l bracket, the use of such universal joints becomes wholly unnecessary and the body of the washing machine at the same time becomes strengthened rather than weakened by the presence of the operating mechanism.

Another advantage inherent in the unitary driving mechanism herein disclosed is that this unit may be sold independent of the body or the tub of the washing machine and may be mounted upon the end of a so-called stationary tub, of the type commonly provided in the basements or laundries of residences, apartment buildings, hotels, etc. With the addition of a rotary drum placed in this stationary tub and coupled to the shaft which carries the bevel gear 25, this stationary tub is converted into a complete electric washing machine. Such an outfit possesses decided advantages on account of the fact that the tub is connected to the drain or sewer and is associated with the faucets supplying hot or cold water, so that it is unnecessary to carry water to and from the tub as in the case of a portable washing machine.

While I have herein illustrated and described my invention with-considerable particularity, it will be understood that I do not intend to be limited to the construction and arrangement set forth except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art, for it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A washing machine or the like having, in combination, an element to be driven and operating mechanism comprising a shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft, reversing mechanism for said element to be driven and connected to the second-mentioned shaft, clutch-controlled mechanism for connecting said shafts, and means for supporting and inclosing said operating mechanism comprising a bracket having a plurality of housings formed integral therewith.

2. A washing machine or the like having, in combination, an element to be driven, and operating mechanism comprising a shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft, reversing mechanism for said element to be driven and connected to the second-mentioned shaft, clutch-controlled mechanism for connecting said shafts, and means for supporting and inclosing said operating mechanism comprising a bracket having housings for separately inclosing the reversing mechanism, driving means and clutch mechanism, and tubular casings for said shafts.

3. A washing machine or the like having,

in combination, an element to be driven, and

operating mechanism comprising a shaft, means for driving said shaft, a second shaft, reversing mechanism for said element to be driven and connected to the second-mentioned shaft, clutch-controlled mechanism for connecting said shafts, and means for supporting and inclosing said operating mechanism comprising a bracket having inclosing housings for the reversing mechanism, driving means and clutch mechanism,

tubular casings for said shafts, and bearing blocks for said shafts in said housings and casings.

4i. 'ihe combination with a washing machine and wringer, and operating mechanism for said machine and wringer, of a combined unitary device functioning as a brace for said machine and as a bracket for supporting said wringer and mechanism, said device including an upper horizontal member'fixed to the upper part of said machine and on which member the wringer is mounted, a vertical member depending from one end of the horizontal member, and an intermediate member connectin said ver- 5 ing said vertical and horizontal members,

said vertical and intermediate members being provlded with housings for said operating mechanism, and tubular casings between said housings, for the shafts of said mechanism. I 1

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ROBERT S. CORLETT: 

